Prince Harry will not return to royal duties unless William apologises, but would be willing to “help” the Firm if his father asked him to, according to a report.
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex have suggested he is happy with his decision to step down from his royal role, the Mirror reported.
But they say he would be open to a temporary role within the Royal Family if his father asked him to help.
This comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed last week that the Duke had distanced himself from his “Hollywood publicists” and had resorted to texting former confidants “from his old life” about planning a return from exile in the US.
However, sources stressed that Harry and Meghan, who have spent the past four years living in California with their two children, are not seeking a permanent return.
The Mirror also previously reported that Prince William suggested there would be “no chance” of Harry being welcomed back following the publication of his memoir, Spare.
Prince William and Prince Harry pictured together after attending the Grenfell Tower National Memorial Service in 2017
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 7 Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of their mother's statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414067_544_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Prince Harry and Prince William at the unveiling of their mother’s statue in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 9 Prince Harry attends the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul's Cathedral on May 8](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpeg.webp)
Prince Harry attends the Invictus Games Foundation 10th Anniversary Service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 11 King Charles visits the Royal Horticultural Society's 200th flower show in Aberdeen on 31 August](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414068_867_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
King Charles visits the Royal Horticultural Society’s 200th flower show in Aberdeen on 31 August
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 13 Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will attend the Invictus Games in September 2023](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414069_994_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will attend the Invictus Games in September 2023
In the book, Harry attacked some members of the royal family. He accused William of assaulting him during an argument over Meghan and claimed that his brother and father confronted him after Prince Philip’s funeral “looking for a fight.”
Harry also alleged that William and Kate urged him to wear his infamous Nazi costume.
He portrayed his brother as his “archenemy,” Queen Consort Camilla as an “evil stepmother,” and Charles as an emotionally stunted and ineffectual “old man.”
William and Harry have not spoken for months and are currently out of contact.
Last week it was revealed that both William and Harry attended the funeral of their uncle Robert Fellowes, but witnesses said they did not see the brothers speaking.
They reportedly sat apart at the back of St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, where the service in honour of Eton-educated Lord Fellowes was taking place.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 15 Sources say the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not planning a permanent return to the UK.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414069_838_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Sources say the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are not planning a permanent return to the UK.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 17 In his memoirs Spare, Harry criticised some members of the Royal Family.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414070_526_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
In his memoirs Spare, Harry criticised some members of the Royal Family.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 19 Prince William and Prince Harry walk side by side after viewing floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414070_182_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpeg.webp)
Prince William and Prince Harry walk side by side after viewing floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 21 Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is based in California with Meghan, 43, and their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414070_774_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpeg.webp)
Sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the Daily Telegraph that he is based in California with Meghan, 43, and their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three. Prince Harry and Meghan pictured with their children in December 2021
Sources said the couple arrived “very discreetly” and that no one would have noticed they were there.
According to The Mirror, Harry’s friends have said he is determined to improve his relationship with his father, especially given his health problems.
They said the duke would still seek an apology from his brother if he represented the family in any way.
Meanwhile, sources close to Harry, who turns 40 next week, told the BBC that he is based in California.
Harry is said to have a new group of ‘amazing’ friends in the US and several projects on the horizon.
She is currently preparing for a trip to New York, where she will take part in events related to her various charities, including the Halo Trust and the Diana Award.
The paper also revealed that Harry and Meghan had split with another American PR adviser.
Christine Weil Schirmer joined the Sussexes in 2020 as head of communications but quietly left late last year.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 23 Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana in The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414071_629_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Prince William and Prince Harry arrive for the unveiling of a statue of their mother Princess Diana in The Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London on July 1, 2021.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 25 Kate, William, Harry and Meghan are photographed together at Windsor Castle in the days following the Queen's death at Balmoral Castle.](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414071_646_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpeg.webp)
Kate, William, Harry and Meghan are photographed together at Windsor Castle in the days following the Queen’s death at Balmoral Castle.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 27 Harry and Meghan attend the volleyball match on the second day of the Invictus Games in April 2022](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414072_657_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Harry and Meghan attend the volleyball match on the second day of the Invictus Games in April 2022
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 29 Harry and Meghan at an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens, Kensington Palace, in November 2017](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414072_826_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpeg.webp)
Harry and Meghan at an official photocall to announce their engagement at The Sunken Gardens, Kensington Palace, in November 2017
She is the 10th member of staff to leave the couple in three years and last month took a job at PR giant Brunswick, advising clients on reputation management.
Last month, it emerged that the Sussexes’ chief of staff, Josh Kettler, had suddenly quit his job after just three months.
“Harry is distancing himself from all Hollywood publicists and is seeking advice from his old friends and associates,” a source said.
“It’s clear that he’s thinking, ‘I need to do something different because what I’m doing is clearly not working.’ In short, he’s rethinking the way he’s doing things.”
Ending his rancorous feud with his brother William is not seen as a realistic goal, but last week this newspaper revealed the King may be open to healing the rift with his younger son and had consulted with religious leaders as he explores the nature of forgiveness.
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 31 King Charles III smiles during a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society's 200th Flower Show in Aberdeen on August 31 this year](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414073_114_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
King Charles III smiles during a visit to the Royal Horticultural Society’s 200th Flower Show in Aberdeen on August 31 this year
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 33 King Charles, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend church on Christmas Day in 2018](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414073_701_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
King Charles, Prince William, Princess Catherine, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend church on Christmas Day in 2018
![Prince Harry 'won't return to royal duties unless William apologises' but would be willing to 'help' the Firm if his father asks him to, report says 35 Prince Harry and Prince William pictured together ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding in 2018](https://whatsnew2day.com/wp-content/uploads/cwv-webp-images/2024/09/1725414074_318_Prince-Harry-wont-return-to-royal-duties-unless-William-apologises.jpg.webp)
Prince Harry and Prince William pictured together ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding in 2018
At least one of the advisers contacted by Harry is a trusted “old-school” figure, known for his loyalty and discretion.
A friend has reportedly already come up with a strategy for how Harry could begin moving in UK circles again, including carrying out “very low-key royal duties.”
A source said the friend “believes that if Harry returns to the UK quietly, without publicity and without attending very mundane events, he could prove himself and win back the British public.”
‘I would have to accept, however, that I might be forced to cut ribbons for a long period, but that would give me a new purpose to work with.’
But the source said that would only happen “if certain members of the family could find it in themselves to allow it.”